Patterns of CO2 concentration and inorganic carbon limitation of phytoplankton biomass in agriculturally eutrophic lakes.

Lake eutrophication is a pervasive problem globally, particularly serious in agricultural and densely populated areas. Whenever nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus do not limit phytoplankton growth directly, high growth rates will rapidly lead to biomass increases causing self-shading and light-limitation, and eventually CO2 depletion. The paradigm of phytoplankton limitation by nutrients and light is so pervasively established, that the lack of nutrient limitation is ordinarily interpreted as sufficient evidence for the condition of light limitation, without considering the possibility of limitation by inorganic carbon. Here, we firstly evaluated how frequently CO2 undersaturation occurs in a set of eutrophic lakes in the Pampa plains. Our results confirm that conditions of CO2 undersaturation develop much more frequently (yearly 34%, summer 44%) in these agriculturally impacted lakes than in deep, temperate lakes in forested watersheds. Secondly, we used Generalized Additive Models to fit trends in CO2 concentration considering three drivers: total incident irradiance, chlorophyll a concentration, and lake depth; in eight multi-year datasets from eutrophic lakes from Europe, North and South America, Asia and New Zealand. CO2 depletion was more often observed at high irradiance levels, and shallow water. CO2 depletion also occurred at high chlorophyll concentration. Finally, we identified occurrences of light- and carbon-limitation at the whole-lake scale. The different responses of chlorophyll a and CO2 allowed us to develop criteria for detecting conditions of CO2 limitation. For the first time, we provided whole-lake evidence of carbon limitation of phytoplankton biomass. CO2 increases and eutrophication represent two major and converging environmental problems that have additive and contrasting effects, promoting phytoplankton, and also leading to carbon depletion. Their interactions deserve further exploration and imaginative approaches to deal with their effects.

Oil Bioremediation in a Tropical Contaminated Soil Using a Reactor.

This research was implemented in the Colombian Amazon forest area; to assess the effect of Tween-80® surfactant in the degradation of the Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in bioremediation treatments under aerobic conditions in the laboratory and pilot-scale. One control treatment, Natural Attenuation (AT) and four biostimulation treatments with leonardite with four different dosages of Tween-80® were proposed. The efficacy of organic stimulators and nonionic surfactant in soil microbiota was studied at laboratory and pilot scales, the latter in a passive aeration reactor. The test that presented a better performance was carried out with a Convective Flow Reactor (CFR) at pilot-scale. The results showed that bioremediation strategies improved the natural degradation process; the best outcomes were obtained in a treatment that includes Leonardite and Tween-80® (1.5 g/L) with 52% TPH degradation in 80 days (d).Tween-80® produced an effect in TPH solubility, and increased the production of CO2 in distinctive bioremediation treatments in both periods. The kinetics of CO2 production showed that the system required a periodic addition of a co-substrate as well as an increase of soil microbiota through the addition of compost (pilot scale). In this stage more than 76% of contaminant was degraded in 60d.

The key action of estradiol and progesterone enables GnRH delivery during gestation in the South American plains vizcacha, Lagostomus maximus.

The South American plains vizcacha, Lagostomus maximus, is the only mammal described so far that shows expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) and progesterone receptors (PRs) in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. This animal therefore constitutes an exceptional model for the study of the effect of steroid hormones on the modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis. By using both in vivo and ex vivo approaches, we have found that pharmacological doses of progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) produced an inhibition in the expression of hypothalamic GnRH, while physiological doses produced a differential effect on the pulsatile release frequency or genomic expression of GnRH. Our ex vivo experiment indicates that a short-term effect of E2 modulates the frequency of GnRH release pattern that would be associated with membrane ERs. On the other hand, our in vivo approach suggests that a long-term effect of E2, acting through the classical nuclear ERs-PRs pathway, would produce the modification of GnRH mRNA expression during the GnRH pre-ovulatory surge. Particularly, P4 induced a rise in GnRH mRNA expression and protein release with a decrease in its release frequency. These results suggest different levels of action of steroid hormones on GnRH modulation. We conclude that the fine action of E2 and P4 constitute the key factor to enable the hypothalamic activity during the pregnancy of this mammal.

Detection of the technical and tactical motion of the scorable movements in taekwondo.

The objective of the study is to discover and analyze the patterns of the technical and tactical moves that score in combat in taekwondo. We analyzed 209 moves that could be scored (male category, <68 kg, international scene) employing different complementary analytical techniques: analyzing traditional statistics, detection of T-Patterns, consecutive delays and polar coordinates. The existing studies in taekwondo only use technical analysis. The complimentary relationship of technical analysis is a rare experience due to the strength that it entails, with just as much human resources as material resources. This situational analysis provides the technical and tactical aspects of the scorable actions in taekwondo, discovering which standard drivers permit a competitor to score. In the actions targeted towards the face, it is more common to score as a fault, doing the opposite of the actions towards the breastplate. The techniques that are used the most to score are bandal chagui, miro chagui and dolio chagui. Among the technical and tactical moves that score, we highlight the direct attack moves (a kick to the breastplate with the back leg extended bandal chagui), in counterattack and for technical correction. We suggest reinforcing these actions in the trainings.

Technical analysis in Tsuri-goshi through three complementary observational analysis.

The aim of this article is to identify the factors involved in learning judo based on an observational study of technical errors and their relationships. The analysis was carried out using a combination of a self-generated observational instrument (OI-JUDO-TG) and a recording instrument (developed with the Lince software) using a sample of 78 novice students. In addition, descriptive statistics and sequential analysis with polar coordinates and T-Patterns were obtained using the Hoisan and Theme software program. The implementation of the various analytical methods optimizes the knowledge of performance and the concretion of feedback, like the process of communication between the teacher and the student, that which will activate new neuronal connections in learning. The results confirmed that the most frequent chain of errors during the performance of the technique were as follows: (1) the lack of an initial imbalance, the incorrect placement of the feet, the head and (2) the head after the tsukuri of the technique, as well as the absence of load of the body during this phase and the lack of balance of the performer when finishing the projection. At the initiation of judo, analytical methods are not applied, but the personal experience or the immediate feedback from the teacher is applied. It proposes a new analytical method to learn the technical errors and the different ways to implement their correction. Through the observational analysis generated, intense relationships between the detected errors have been demonstrated, determining the presence of the ones that causes the occurrence of the others.

Liver Cirrhosis From Chronic Hypervitaminosis A Resulting in Liver Transplantation: A Case Report.

Herein we report a case of liver dysfunction caused by consumption of vitamin A supplements leading to liver transplantation. The patient was a 48-year-old male with a medical history of congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma in treatment with vitamin A until 12 years of age, at which point he discontinued the supplements because he had developed ascites. Liver cirrhosis was diagnosed as secondary to hypervitaminosis A on the basis of histologic examination of liver biopsy and the absence of other potential causes of chronic liver disease. Despite interruption of administration of vitamin A, the patient continued to deteriorate over the years, with development of portal hypertension signs. His medical conditions were aggravated with the development of hepatic insufficiency manifested by refractory ascites, renal insufficiency, and severe encephalopathy and he underwent orthotopic liver transplantation, followed by disappearance of all signs of portal hypertension. This case highlights the need to take a careful history of consumption of vitamin A when evaluating a patient with liver failure.

Optimization and scale-up of an LED-illuminated microalgal photobioreactor for wastewater treatment.

The use of light-emitting diode (LED)-illuminated photobioreactors with microalgae has been extensively studied for wastewater treatment. Most studies have used isolated microalgae species; however, this practice does not match the reality of conditions in wastewater treatment plants. Operational conditions that promote greater growth of algal biomass and that remove pollutants most effectively are disputed in the literature. In this context, LED-illuminated photobioreactors with microalgae were evaluated using multivariate analysis in order to optimize removal of pollutants (nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbonaceous organic matter). Three variables were evaluated: operating time, LED wavelength, and luminous flux intensity. A microalgae consortium was used in the photobioreactor. In addition to the LED-illuminated photobioreactors, control photobioreactors illuminated by sunlight were also operated. Using the results obtained in the optimization, a scaled-up reactor approximately 8.5 times larger in volume was operated to evaluate if the behavior would be maintained. The best operational conditions for the removal of pollutants were observed in LED-illuminated photobioreactors operated under a light intensity of 700 µmol·m-2s-1 for 15 days. Under these conditions, it was possible to remove 89.97% of carbonaceous organic matter, 86.50% of nitrogen, and 30.64% of phosphorus. The scaled-up photobioreactor operated with similar performance.

Demonstration of differences in colonic volumes, transit, chyme consistency, and response to psyllium between healthy and constipated subjects using magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: In functional gastrointestinal disorders a lack of objective biomarkers limits evaluation of underlying mechanisms. We aimed to demonstrate the utility of magnetic resonance imaging for this task using psyllium, an effective constipation treatment, in patients and controls. METHODS: Two crossover studies: (i) adults without constipation (controls, n = 9) took three treatments in randomized order for 6 days - maltodextrin (placebo), psyllium 3.5 g t.d.s and 7 g t.d.s., (ii) adults with chronic constipation (patients, n = 20) took placebo and psyllium 7 g t.d.s. for 6 days. MRI was performed fasting and postprandially on day 6. Measurements included small bowel and ascending colon water content, colonic volume, transit time, and MR relaxometry (T1, T2) to assess colonic chyme. Stool water percentage was measured. RESULTS: 7 g psyllium t.d.s. increased fasting colonic volumes in controls from median 372 mL (IQR 284-601) to 578 mL (IQR 510-882), and in patients from median 831 mL (IQR 745-934) to 1104 mL (847-1316), P < .05. Mean postprandial small bowel water was higher in controls and patients after 7 g psyllium t.d.s. vs placebo. Whole gut transit was slower in patients than controls (P < .05). T1 of the descending colon chyme (fasting) was lower in patients (213 ms, 176-420) than controls (440 ms, 352-884, P < .05) on placebo, but increased by 7 g psyllium t.d.s. (590 ms, 446-1338), P < .001. Descending colon T1 correlated with baseline stool water content and stool frequency on treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: MRI measurements can objectively demonstrate the mode of action of therapy targeting intestinal fluid content in constipation.

Local production of neurostradiol affects gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion at mid-gestation in Lagostomus maximus (Rodentia, Caviomorpha).

Females of the South American plains vizcacha, Lagostomus maximus, show peculiar reproductive features such as massive polyovulation up to 800 oocytes per estrous cycle and an ovulatory process around mid-gestation arising from the reactivation of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-ovary (H.H.O.) axis. Estradiol (E2) regulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) expression. Biosynthesis of estrogens results from the aromatization of androgens by aromatase, which mainly occurs in the gonads, but has also been described in the hypothalamus. The recently described correlation between GnRH and ERα expression patterns in the hypothalamus of the vizcacha during pregnancy, with coexpression in the same neurons of the medial preoptic area, suggests that hypothalamic synthesis of E2 may affect GnRH neurons and contribute with systemic E2 to modulate GnRH delivery during the gestation. To elucidate this hypothesis, hypothalamic expression and the action of aromatase on GnRH release were evaluated in female vizcachas throughout pregnancy. Aromatase and GnRH expression was increased significantly in mid-pregnant and term-pregnant vizcachas compared to early-pregnant and nonpregnant females. In addition, aromatase and GnRH were colocalized in neurons of the medial preoptic area of the hypothalamus throughout gestation. The blockage of the negative feedback of E2 induced by the inhibition of aromatase resulted in a significant increment of GnRH-secreted mass by hypothalamic explants. E2 produced in the same neurons as GnRH may drive intracellular E2 to higher levels than those obtained from systemic circulation alone. This may trigger for a prompt GnRH availability enabling H.H.O. activity at mid-gestation with ovulation and formation of accessory corpora lutea with steroidogenic activity that produce the necessary progesterone to maintain gestation to term and guarantee the reproductive success.

Dermoscopic Findings of Jellyfish Stings Caused by Pelagia noctiluca.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Jellyfish are free-living members of the phylum Cnidaria who share a specialized stinging cell, the cnidocyte. Pelagia noctiluca is the most frequent and toxic jellyfish species found in the Balearic beaches and cnidocytes are arranged in pigmented clusters called "warts". Dermoscopy continues to expand its use much beyond the pigmentary lesions and to date, there is no data regarding dermoscopic findings in jellyfish stings. The aim of the present work was to study the dermoscopic findings of jellyfish stings in the island of Mallorca. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and dermoscopic images of 25 episodes of jellyfish stings caused by P. noctiluca that occurred between 2009 and 2015. RESULTS: Overall, the following dermoscopic features were found: brown dots (84%), pinkish hue (56%), pinpoint brown crusts (44%), scale-crust (40%), brown "Chinese characters pattern" (32%), "serpentine" ulceration (28%), linear purpura (20%), and whitish-yellow crusts (15%). Vessels were mainly dotted (36%) or reticular (16%). Scale-crust, serpentine ulceration and pinkish hue were significantly more frequent in lesions older than 2 days. CONCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS: Our study identifies 4 dermoscopic features that may represent the contact with P. noctiluca cnidocytes: brown dots, brown "Chinese characters pattern", pinpoint brown crusts and whitish-yellow crusts. A peculiar finding of "serpentine ulceration" with brown dots would be very suggestive of P. noctiluca sting. We believe dermoscopy is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of jellyfish stings when a clear history of contact is lacking. Further studies are needed to validate our findings in other jellyfish species.

Adherencia al tratamiento antihipertensivo en pacientes mayores de 60 años / Adherence to antihypertensive therapy in patients over 60 years old

Introducción: a pesar de que el tratamiento de la Hipertensión Arterial reduce sus complicaciones y la mortalidad por este padecimiento, alrededor de 30 por ciento de los hipertensos no está bien controlado. El incumplimiento del tratamiento se considera el principal factor responsable del mal control de la enfermedad. Objetivo: caracterizar la adherencia al tratamiento antihipertensivo de los pacientes mayores de 60 años del Consultorio 16, Policlínico 26 de Julio, Municipio Playa, La Habana. Material y Método: se realizó una investigación descriptiva de corte transversal en 245 hipertensos mayores de 60 años con tratamiento farmacológico. Las variables estudiadas fueron edad, sexo biológico, grado de escolaridad, tratamiento prescrito, adherencia al tratamiento, y motivo de la no adherencia. Resultados: la adherencia al tratamiento fue de 58.3 por ciento. Los pacientes con nivel universitario de escolaridad tuvieron 74 por ciento de adherencia. El esquema terapéutico diario de un único medicamento tuvo la mayor adherencia terapéutica con 73.8 por ciento. La mayor adherencia se encontró en los pacientes que tomaban medicamentos de dosis única diaria: Atenolol (92.3 por ciento), Amlodipino (88,9 por ciento) o Enalapril (88,1 por ciento). Entre los motivos más frecuentes de no adherencia al tratamiento se encontraron olvidar las dosis (40 por ciento) y sentirse bien (38.2 por ciento).Conclusiones: la adherencia a la terapéutica de los pacientes hipertensos mayores de 60 años es baja. Es causado por diversos factores, principalmente el olvido de las tomas de los medicamentos, la polifarmacia y la poca percepción del riesgo para la salud que significa el control inadecuado de la Hipertensión Arterial(AU)

Introduction: although the treatment of Hypertension reduces complications and mortality from this disease, about 30 percent of hypertensive patients are not well controlled. Failure of treatment is considered the responsible and main factor for the poor control of the disease. Objective: to characterize adherence to antihypertensive treatment of patients over 60 years at Consulting room 16, in 26 de Julio Polyclinic, Havana. Material and Method: a descriptive cross-sectional research, in 245 hypertensive patients over 60 years with drug treatment was performed. The variables studied were: age, biological sex, educational level, prescribed treatment, and treatment adherence and non-adherence reason.Results: adherence to treatment was 58.3 percent. Patients with university level of education had 74 percent adherence. The daily treatment regimen of one drug had greater adherence to 73.8 percent. The increased adhesion was found in patients taking drugs with one daily dose: Atenolol (92.3 percent), Amlodipino (88.9 percent) or Enalapril (88.1 percent). Among the most frequent reasons for non-adherence to treatment were found to miss the doses (40 percent) and feeling good(38.2 percent). Conclusions: adherence to therapy of hypertensive patients over 60 years is low. This problem is caused by several factors, mainly forgetting medication intakes, the dosing with a great number of medicines and poor perceptions of health risk which means inadequate control of the disease(AU)

Assessment of factors limiting algal growth in acidic pit lakes--a case study from Western Australia, Australia.

Open-cut mining operations can form pit lakes on mine closure. These new water bodies typically have low nutrient concentrations and may have acidic and metal-contaminated waters from acid mine drainage (AMD) causing low algal biomass and algal biodiversity. A preliminary study was carried out on an acidic coal pit lake, Lake Kepwari, in Western Australia to determine which factors limited algal biomass. Water quality was monitored to obtain baseline data. pH ranged between 3.7 and 4.1, and solute concentrations were slightly elevated to levels of brackish water. Concentrations of N were highly relative to natural lakes, although concentrations of FRP (<0.01 mg/L) and C (total C 0.7-3.7 and DOC 0.7-3.5 mg/L) were very low, and as a result, algal growth was also extremely low. Microcosm experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that nutrient enrichment will be able to stimulate algal growth regardless of water quality. Microcosms of Lake Kepwari water were amended with N, P and C nutrients with and without sediment. Nutrient amendments under microcosm conditions could not show any significant phytoplankton growth but was able to promote benthic algal growth. P amendments without sediment showed a statistically higher mean algal biomass concentration than controls or microcosms amended with phosphorus but with sediment did. Results indicated that algal biomass in acidic pit lake (Lake Kepwari) may be limited primarily by low nutrient concentrations (especially phosphorus) and not by low pH or elevated metal concentrations. Furthermore, sediment processes may also reduce the nutrient availability.

Effects of two different exercise programs on gait parameters in individuals with Parkinson's disease: a pilot study.

To date, little attempt has been made to compare or evaluate the effects of different physical exercise programs on gait disorders in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). This pilot study is aimed at obtaining preliminary data of the effects of two different exercise programs on gait parameters in people with PD by means of a biomechanical three-dimensional motion analysis. Twenty-five individuals with idiopathic PD participated either in a land-based (LB) or in a LB plus water-based (LWB) exercise program for 16 weeks. The efficacy of both exercise programs was quantified by means of a biomechanical gait analysis from which spatiotemporal and sagittal plane kinetic (gait speed, stride length, cadence, stride time, simple support time, double support time) and kinematic (angles of the hip, knee, and ankle joints) variables were recorded. Once the intervention ended, significant changes were observed in stride length and single/double support time variables in all the patients. The intergroup analysis revealed the existence of significant differences only in the gait Speed and hip Angle parameters. Few significant improvements in the amplitude of lower limb joints were found. These results suggest that land-based and land-plus-water-based exercise programs can be considered as a useful physical rehabilitation alternative, both equally capable of improving gait impairment on Parkinson's disease.

Reacción urticariforme secundaria a terapia fotodinámica en 2 pacientes pediátricos / Urticaria-Like Reaction Secondary to Photodynamic Therapy in 2 Pediatric Patients

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The times they're a-changing: effects of circadian desynchronization on physiology and disease.

Circadian rhythms are endogenous and need to be continuously entrained (synchronized) with the environment. Entrainment includes both coupling internal oscillators to external periodic changes as well as synchrony between the central clock and peripheral oscillators, which have been shown to exhibit different phases and resynchronization speed. Temporal desynchronization induces diverse physiological alterations that ultimately decrease quality of life and induces pathological situations. Indeed, there is a considerable amount of evidence regarding the deleterious effect of circadian dysfunction on overall health or on disease onset and progression, both in human studies and in animal models. In this review we discuss the general features of circadian entrainment and introduce diverse experimental models of desynchronization. In addition, we focus on metabolic, immune and cognitive alterations under situations of acute or chronic circadian desynchronization, as exemplified by jet-lag and shiftwork schedules. Moreover, such situations might lead to an enhanced susceptibility to diverse cancer types. Possible interventions (including light exposure, scheduled timing for meals and use of chronobiotics) are also discussed.

Hypoalgesic and motor effects of kaltenborn mobilization on elderly patients with secondary thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of Kaltenborn manual therapy on sensory and motor function in elderly patients with secondary carpometacarpal osteoarthritis (CMC OA). METHOD: Twenty-nine female patients with secondary CMC OA (70-90 years old) were randomized into Kaltenborn manual therapy and sham groups. This study was designed as a double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT). Therapy consisted of Kaltenborn mobilization of posterior-anterior gliding with distraction in grade 3 of the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint of the dominant hand during 6 sessions over 2 weeks. Pain was measured by algometry, as the pressure pain threshold (PPT) at the CMC joint and tubercle of the scaphoid bone. The tip and tripod pinch strength was also measured. Grip strength was measured by a grip dynamometer. Measurements were taken before treatment and after 1 week (first follow-up [FU]) and 2 weeks (second FU). RESULTS: All values in the sham group remained unchanged during the treatment period. In the treated group, the PPT in the CMC joint was 2.98 ± 0.30 kg/cm(2), which increased after treatment to 4.07 ± 0.53, and was maintained at the same level during the first FU (3.46 ± 0.31) and second FU (3.84 ± 0.36). Similarly, the PPT in the scaphoid bone was 3.61 ± 0.29 kg/cm(2), which increased after treatment to 4.87 ± 0.37, and was maintained at the same level during the first FU (4.44 ± 0.43) and second FU (4.22 ± 0.32). In contrast, we found no differences in the tip, tripod pinch, and grip strength measurements between the treatment and sham groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that Kaltenborn manual therapy decreased pain in the CMC joint and scaphoid bone areas of elderly female patients; however, it did not confer an increase in motor function in patients with CMC OA.

Tres casos de paniculitis por Mycobacterium abscessus posmesoterapia / Three Cases of Panniculitis due to Mycobacterium Abscessus After Mesotherapy

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